While vaccines continue to make headlines across the globe, face masks such as N95 and KN95 respirators cannot be simply dropped out of the news radar as more contagious COVID-19 strains are spreading infection like wildfire globally.
Since last year, all sorts of face masks have been part of everyone’s daily lifestyle but no other type can compare to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved N95 respirators.
Meanwhile, A few KN95 respirator brands in the U.S., which were able to meet the stringent medical standards and are similar to N95 respirators in terms of their level of protection, have also been approved by the CDC for single-use only. Both filtering respirators are effective in blocking 95% of aerosol particles that float in the air.
With an increasing demand for the U.S. production of both filtering respirators to supply hospitals, offices, and for general use, more suppliers such as The USA Mask Company have stepped up to increase the global supply chain of quality and approved N95 and KN95 respirators while also hoping to shoot down the proliferation of counterfeit products in the process.
Be sure to keep yourself safe with genuine and high-grade N95 or KN95 respirators with the following filtering respirator standards:
- Both N95 and KN95 respirators are made with multiple layers of synthetic polypropylene plastic polymer. They should properly fit your face, covering areas from your chin to the apex of your nose with ear loops that hold them securely in place.
- The multiple layers in these respirators are melt blown– a computer-controlled process that collects micro and nanofibers in graded pore structures on a molded core for more efficient air filtration and prevention of airborne particle intrusion.
- In terms of certification, the N95 remains as the U.S. standard while the KN95 is that of China’s. Though bearing similar qualities and efficiency, only N95 respirators are approved for healthcare use in the U.S. as of the present.
- N95 respirators undergo a meticulous review and inspection process from the NIOSH. Several KN95 mask brands have secured certification from both the CDC and the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) for emergency use after meeting the 95% filtration requirement and submission of authenticity documents on the materials and equipment used in their respective production process. These KN95 respirators have also passed stringent lab tests by trusted independent ICS laboratories that ensure their effectiveness and filtering efficiency.
Still on the news, over 10 billion fake N95 respirators were recently seized by U.S. authorities across the U.S. prompting officials to encourage the public and various industries to directly purchase N95 and KN95 respirators from certified companies such as The USA Mask Company, 3M, Honeywell, or WellBefore among others.
Learn how you can order genuine, and US-made KN95 respirators here.